Transverse bracing for metallic floor joists



Aug l, 1933.

W; F. ZABRISK IE TRANSVERSE BRACING FOR METALLIC FLOOR JOISTS Filed Dec.10, 1928 ATTORNEYS 4 ing top and bottom edges. This lug maybe PatentedAug. 1, 193 3 res Ari: mes

, poration of Michigan Applicaticn December ll), 1923. Serial No.324,998

' 4 Claims. (01. 189-36) The invention relates to floor constructionsemploying metallic joists and has for its object a COIlStlllCtlOllOftransverse bracing which may be easily applied and which will impart tothe structure a high degree of rigidity. In the present state of thearty one type of metallic joists extensively used is a constructioncomprising .top and bottom cord members formed of bars of structuralshape, andan intermediate webbing formed of a zigzag bar welded orotherwise secured to the top and bottomc'ord members. lily improvementis applicable to this form of joist or to any other trussed form, andconsists in the novel construction as hereinafter set forth.

In the drawing:

Figure 1 is a perspective view'showing portions of adjacent metallicfloor joists with my improved transverse bracing applied thereto;

Figure 2 is a cross section through the transverse bracing;

Figure 3 is a cross section on line 33 of Figure 2.

As shown; the metallic joists A and A, etc. each consists of a top cordmember B of structural shape and specifically a T bar having a laterallyextending angle flange at the bottom of the T to form a channel sectionon one side. The bottom cord member 0 is formed of an angle bar arrangedparallel to the bar B and the webbing D is also formed of an angle barbent into a zigzag form and welded at its top and bottom angular bendsrespectivelyjto the cord members 13 and C. l

To provide further attachment of transverse bracing to suchaconstruction of joists, I add at one or more points in the length of thespan strut members E which extend vertically and are attached at theirupper andlower ends to the cord members B and C. These struts arepreferably formed of flat bars having angle bends E? at their ends forattachment'to the cord members and also'provided intermediate said endswith a lug F having bevelled or taperwelded to the bar D so as to berigidly attached thereto and extends in a plane which is perpendicularto the plane of the joists. G is a channel bar having. tapering flangesadapted to f'fit over the tapering upper and lower edge portions of thelugs F; This bar G is of a length to extend transversely of a series ofjoists forming a span and fittingover the lugs of the successive joists.Thus by clamping this bar to each of the struts E it will be wedgedagainst the lugs F and will, thus form a rigid connection therewith. Y fTo facilitate such clamping engagement I preferably provide apermanently attached clamp for each joist which is ready for applicationwhen the bracing is placed in position. These clamps, as shown, areformed by welding or otherwise securing to the flange E of the strutmember E a pintle H which pivotally engages a clamping arm I preferablyformed of sheetmetal or" U-shape cross section." The lower end of thisclamping arm is apertured to engage a bolt J which is'secured to thestrut Eand projects laterally therefrom. A clamping nut K engages thethreadedportion of the bolt and the arrangement is such that Whenever itis desired to clamp the bar G the arm Iis swung downeward over said barto engage with the bolt J and then drawn inward by the nut K. This willforce the tapering flanges of the bar (3' into wedging engagement withthe tapering faces of the lug F, forming a joint that will hold the barG substantially perpendicular to andrigid with the strut E. A 1

One advantage of this construction is that it does not necessitate anyexact alignment of the struts E in the successive joists. This isbecause there is sufiicient flexibility in the bar G to permit ofdrawing each portion thereof adjacent to a strutin clamping contacttherewith. At the same time the bar has a high degree of rigidity :in avertical transverse, plane and therefore effectively braces the wholeseries of joists.

Another important advantage is that .the load 'concentratedon one beamwill be distributed laterally to adjacent beams, thereby increasing thestrength and the stiffness of the floor. 7

What I claim as my invention is:

1. In a floor construction, the combination with a series of metallicjoists, each provided with top and bottom cord members, of verticalstruts extending between said top and bottom cord members and providedat intermediate points with laterally projecting lugs, and a channel barextending transversely to the series of joists adjacent to said strutsand with the channel portions thereof embracing said lugs and means forclamping said bar to reach of said struts toform a rigid connectionthereto. I

'2. In a floor construction, the combination of a series of metallicjoists, each comprising-top and bottom cord members, of struts extendingbetween said top and bottom cord members and rigidly attached thereto,said struts being formed plane of the joists, lugs projecting from saidstruts at a point intermediate the ends thereof, a channel bar extendingtransversely of the series of joists adjacent to the respective struts,and having its channel embracing each of said lugs, the flanges of saidchannel andthe edges 'of said lugs being tapered to. form a wedge engagement, and means for clamping said channel to the lug of each strut.

3. In a floorconstruction, the combination of a series of metallicjoists, each comprising top and bottom cord members, 'of strutsextending between said top and bottom cord members and rigidly attachedthereto, said struts being formed of flat bars arrangedin a planetransverse to the plane of the joists, lugs projecting from said strutsat a point intermediatethe ends thereof, a channel bar extendingtransversely of I the series of joists adjacent to the respectivestruts, and having its channel embracing each of said lugs, theflang'esof'said channel and the edges of said lugs being tapered to form a wedgeen- :plane of the joists, lugs having tapering top and bottom edgesprojecting laterally from said struts at a point intermediate the endsthereof, a clamping arm pivotally attached to said strut, a channel barextending in a plane transverse to the series of joists adjacent to therespective struts, the flanges of said channel embracing the taperingedges of said lugs, and a screw clamp for drawingthe ends of saidpivoted clamping arm to said strut and thereby clamping said channel barin rigid engagement with said lugs.

- WILLIAM F. ZABRISICIE.

